FBI Files on Highlander Folk School on Microfilm, 1940-1972
Collection Number: 5898 mf
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
FBI Files on Highlander Folk School on Microfilm, 1940-1972
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5898 mf
Creator:
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Quanitities:
0.11 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
The Highlander Folk School (HFS) in Monteagle, Tennessee, was established in 1932
by Myles Horton, a native Tennessean, who wanted to "provide an educational center
in the South for the training of rural and industrial leaders, and for the conservation
and enrichment of the indigenous cultural values of the mountain." The school accepted
workers whom their unions considered potential leaders, and the unions paid most of
their way through the school. These workers were trained in such endeavors as collective
bargaining, contract negotiation, and strike organization, as well as less weighty,
but presumably no less important, skills like poster-making and song-singing. Rosa
Parks was trained by Highlander prior to her historic role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott,
other activists who participated in training include members of the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Septima Clark, Anne Braden, Martin Luther King, Jr.,
James Bevel, Hollis Watkins, Bernard Lafayette, Ralph Abernathy and John Lewis in
the mid - and - late 1950s. The state of Tennessee closed the school in 1961 because
of backlash against the school's involvement with the Civil Rights Movement.
Highlander reorganized and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where it reopened as the
Highlander Research and Education Center.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
FBI Files on Highlander Folk School on Microfilm #5898 mf. Kheel Center for Labor-Management
Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: 5717: Highlander Folk School Publications
Names:
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Highland Folk School (HFS)
Highlander Research and Education Center (HREC)
Sea Island Progressive Club Center
Tennessee House of Representatives
Bagelon, David L.
Belmont, A. H.
Buttrick, Jr., William T.
Clegg, Hugh M.
DeLoach, C. D.
Dombrowski, James
Ford, Peyton
Green, William
Griffin, Marvin
Hoover, J. Edgar
Horton, Myles
Jones, M. A.
Jones, Robert F.
Ladd, D. M.
Laughlin, L. L.
Levy, Herbert M.
Masonk, Lucy R.
McGrath, J. Howard
Murphy, W. A.
Nichols, L. B.
Roosevelt, Eleanor
Smith, R. W.
Sullivan, W. C.
Swift, W. A.
Tolson, Clyde
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Reel 1 |
Sections 1-11, 1936-1972.
|
||
| Reel 1 |
Section 1: 4/1936-7/1941.
|
||
| Reel 1 | 1 |
Report
|
1940 |
|
Scope and Contents
1/29/40 on speech by James Dombrowski, chairman of the Highlander Folk School (HFS),
on the philosophy and program of the school, including a list of HFS Advisory Committee
members
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 2 |
Newspaper clippings
|
1940 |
|
Scope and Contents
spring 1940
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 3 |
Various letters
|
1940 |
|
Scope and Contents
alleging Communist influence within the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 4 |
Memo
|
1940 |
|
Scope and Contents
12/6/40 to Bureau Director J. Edgar Hoover regarding request from Congressman Robert
F. Jones to review the HFS file
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 5 |
Letter
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
4/9/41 from the special agent-in-charge (SAC), Knoxville, to Hoover requesting the
bureau to develop photographs of HFS documents
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 6 |
Memo
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
4/14/41 from SAC Knoxville regarding report on the HFS furnished to William Green,
president of the American Federation of Labor
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 7 |
Report
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
5/13/41 on the enrollment of William T. Buttrick, Jr., at the University of Florida
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 8 |
Report
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
6/1/41 regarding past activities of HFS faculty members
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 9 |
HFS promotional literarture
|
|
| Reel 1 | 10 |
Report
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
6/4/41 on Edwin B. Schutlz
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 11 |
Memo
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
6/6/41 from R.C. Hendon to Clyde Tolson regarding the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 12 |
Reports
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
6/41 concerning background checks of HFS personnel
|
|||
| Reel 1 |
Section 2: 7/1941-1/1942.
|
1941 | |
| Reel 1 | 13 |
Report
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
7/29/41 concerning background checks
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 14 |
Report
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
7/17/41 including the HFS Charter of Incorporation
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 15 |
Report
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
9/29/41 concerning the Institute for Labor Studies
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 16 |
Letter
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
10/4/41 from W.A. Murphy (SAC Knoxville) to Hoover concerning Myles Horton
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 17 |
Letter
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
10/12/41 from Murphy to Hoover regarding status of the HFS investigation
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 18 |
Report
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
10/21/41 concerning HFS contributors
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 19 |
Report
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
11/29/41 on HFS personnel
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 20 |
Report
|
1941 |
|
Scope and Contents
12/30/41 on all aspects of the HFS to date
|
|||
| Reel 1 |
Section 3: 1/1942-10/1942.
|
||
| Reel 1 | 21 |
Report
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
1/8/42 regarding Joseph Kelley Stockton
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 22 |
Letter
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
1/19/42 from Murphy to Hoover stating that HFS-produced publications, including The
Highlander Fling, will be provided in future reports
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 23 |
Letter
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
1/28/42 from Murphy to Hoover regarding a synopsis of the HFS 1941 annual report
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 24 |
Letter
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/16/42 from Murphy to Hoover, including copies of The Highlander Fling
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 25 |
Report
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/26/42 on James Dombrowski
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 26 |
Letter
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/28/42 from Murphy to Hoover regarding a $100 donation to the HFS from Eleanor Roosevelt
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 27 |
Copy of the ninth annual report of the HFS
|
1941 |
| Reel 1 | 28 |
Copy of Songs of Field and Factory
|
1940 |
|
Scope and Contents
HFS publication, spring 1940
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 29 |
Letter
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
3/18/42 from Murphy to Hoover, including HFS promotional literature and additional
copies of The Highlander Fling
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 30 |
Report
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
4/1/42 on interview of Horton concerning his activities in the school area
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 31 |
Report
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
6/17/42 concerning interview of a former HFS employee
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 32 |
Report
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
7/9/42 regarding the HFS benefit concert in Washington by Paul Robeson and other HFS
activities
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 33 |
includes newspaper clippings and additional HFS publications
|
|
| Reel 1 | 34 |
Report
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
9/12/42 regarding founding of the HFS and other background information
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 35 |
Memo
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
10/23/42 from Hoover to SAC Knoxville ordering a halt to the active investigation
of the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 36 |
Report
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
10/22/42 on summer session of the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 |
Section 4: 10/1942-6/1954.
|
||
| Reel 1 | 37 |
Memo
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
10/27/42 from K.R. McIntire to Mr. Mumford, including HFS promotional materials
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 38 |
Report
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
12/3/42 on tenth anniversary activities at the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 39 |
Letter
|
1942 |
|
Scope and Contents
12/14/42 regarding closing of file, including one HFS publication
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 40 |
Letter
|
1947 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/14/47 from Assistant Attorney General David L. Bagelon to Hoover regrading the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 41 |
includes additional information
|
|
| Reel 1 | 42 |
Memo
|
1948 |
|
Scope and Contents
3/18/48 from Hoover to SAC Knoxville regarding possible Communist "front" status of
the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 43 |
Letter
|
1950 |
|
Scope and Contents
12/10/50 from Myles Horton to Hugh H. Clegg, assistant director of the bureau
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 44 |
Memo
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
1/4/51 from D.M. Ladd to Hoover regarding response to Horton
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 45 |
Memo
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
1/22/51 from Mr. Belmont to Mr. Ladd regarding response to Horton
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 46 |
Letter
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/14/51 from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to Hoover inquiring into the
investigation of the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 47 |
Letter
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
1/31/51 from Horton to US Attorney General J. Howard McGrath regarding bureau investigation
of black students enrolled at the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 48 |
Memo
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/26/51 from Hoover to Peyton Ford, deputy attorney general, concerning correspondence
with Myles Horton
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 49 |
Memo
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/21/51 from D.M. Ladd to the director regarding Baldwin's allegation of bureau activity
at the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 50 |
Teletype
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/21/51 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding interviews of Myles Horton
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 51 |
Memo
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
3/5/51 from Peyton Ford to Hoover regarding correspondence with Myles Horton
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 52 |
Memo
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
3/12/51 from L.L. Laughlin to A.H. Belmont regarding an HFS letter alleging bureau
investigation of interracial enrollment
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 53 |
Newspaper clippings concerning the HFS
|
|
| Reel 1 | 54 |
Memo
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/27/51 from D.M. Ladd to Hoover regarding complaints surrounding the HFS investigation
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 55 |
Letter
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
3/14/51 from Lucy R. Mason of the Congress of Industrial Organizations regarding bureau
agents
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 56 |
Memo
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/23/51 from D.M. Ladd to Hoover regarding the investigation of the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 57 |
Letter
|
1951 |
|
Scope and Contents
4/18/51 from Herbert M. Levy of the ACLU regarding correspondence from Hoover
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 58 |
Memo
|
1953 |
|
Scope and Contents
8/25/53 from A.H. Belmont to D.M. Ladd regarding Jenner Committee request for information
on Myles Horton
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 59 |
Memo
|
1953 |
|
Scope and Contents
8/27/53 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding interview of Rev. W.A. Swift, Monteagle,
TN
|
|||
| Reel 1 |
Section 5: 12/1955-2/1959.
|
||
| Reel 1 | 60 |
Report
|
1956 |
|
Scope and Contents
4/27/56 regarding Myles Horton and his wife
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 61 |
Copy of the HFS 21st Annual Report (10/1/52-9/30/53)
|
|
| Reel 1 | 62 |
Copy of "A Guide to Community Action for Public School Integration"
|
|
| Reel 1 | 63 |
Copy of "Public Speaking"
|
|
| Reel 1 | 64 |
Copy of Highlander Reports, July 1953
|
1953 |
| Reel 1 | 65 |
Memo
|
1956 |
|
Scope and Contents
9/20/56 from SAC Mobile to Hoover regarding the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 66 |
Memo
|
1957 |
|
Scope and Contents
8/30/57 from L.B. Nichols to Clyde Tolson regarding increased activity at the HFS
and the plan of events for its 25th anniversary
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 67 |
Memo
|
1957 |
|
Scope and Contents
9/4/57 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding information that the HFS is becoming
a center for teaching civil disobedience
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 68 |
Pamphlet issued by the Georgia Commission on Education, Governor Marvin Griffin, chairman,
alleging Communist activities at the HFS
|
|
| Reel 1 | 69 |
Newspaper clippings
|
|
| Reel 1 | 70 |
Letter
|
1957 |
|
Scope and Contents
11/1/57 from Hoover to SAC Knoxville inquiring into civil disobedience activities
at the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 71 |
Letter
|
1957 |
|
Scope and Contents
11/21/57 from Septima Clark of the HFS soliciting funds
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 72 |
Copy of Highlander Reports, 25th Annual (10/1/56-9/30/57)
|
1956-1957 |
| Reel 1 | 73 |
Copy of "Official Statement of Policy" of the HFS
|
|
| Reel 1 | 74 |
Newspaper clippings
|
|
| Reel 1 | 75 |
Pamphlet: "Communism and the NAACP," origin unknown
|
|
| Reel 1 | 76 |
Letter
|
1959 |
|
Scope and Contents
1/59 from Myles Horton soliciting funds
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 77 |
Copy of 26th Annual Report (10/1/57-9/30/58)
|
|
| Reel 1 | 78 |
Letter
|
1959 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/2/59 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding action by Tennessee legislature to investigate
"subversive" activities at the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 |
Section 6: 2/1959-6/1961.
|
||
| Reel 1 | 79 |
Memo
|
1959 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/24/59 from SAC Memphis to Hoover regarding support of Tennessee legislature by the
Tennessee Federation for Constitutional Government
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 80 |
Letter
|
1959 |
|
Scope and Contents
6/8/59 to C.D. DeLoach regarding John's Island Branch of the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 81 |
Newspaper clippings regarding police raid on the HFS
|
|
| Reel 1 | 82 |
Memo
|
1959 |
|
Scope and Contents
9/11/59 from Hoover to SAC Knoxville regarding open protest letter from Myles Horton
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 83 |
Report
|
1959 |
|
Scope and Contents
9/15/59 on the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 84 |
Newspaper clippings regarding trial
|
|
| Reel 1 | 85 |
Memo
|
1960 |
|
Scope and Contents
2/29/60 from SAC Louisville to Hoover regarding the "Friends of Highlander"
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 86 |
Newspaper clippings regarding revocation of the HFS charter
|
|
| Reel 1 | 87 |
Memo
|
1961 |
|
Scope and Contents
5/22/61 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover pertaining to latest legal actions and decision
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 88 |
Memo
|
1961 |
|
Scope and Contents
6/29/61 from Hoover to legal attache, Bonn (Federal Republic of Germany), regarding
furnishing information about the HFS outisde the bureau
|
|||
| Reel 1 |
Section 7: 10/1961-11/1967.
|
||
| Reel 1 | 89 |
Memo
|
1961 |
|
Scope and Contents
10/17/61 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding contingency plans for the HFS to move
to Knoxville
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 90 |
Memo
|
1961 |
|
Scope and Contents
10/25/61 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding prointegration activities at the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 91 |
Memo
|
1963 |
|
Scope and Contents
6/20/63 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding information about racial matters
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 92 |
Memo
|
1963 |
|
Scope and Contents
7/18/63 from R.W. Smith to W.C. Sullivan regarding requests from Senator Warren G.
Magnuson and Congressman Jeffery Cohilan concerning racial agitation
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 93 |
Newspaper clippings
|
|
| Reel 1 | 94 |
Memo
|
1963 |
|
Scope and Contents
7/26/63 from F.J. Baumgardner to W.C. Sullivan regarding Highlander Research and Education
Center (HREC), Knoxville, and request for list of officers, teachers, and students
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 95 |
Memo
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
8/13/64 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding update on situation
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 96 |
Memo
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
7/7/64 from SAC Knoxville regarding the Washington Committee for the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 97 |
Memo
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
8/28/64 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding voter registration drive at the Sea
Island Progressive Club Center, St. John's Island, SC
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 98 |
Memo
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
9/10/64 from SAC Savannah to Hoover regarding the HREC
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 99 |
Memo
|
1964 |
|
Scope and Contents
7/27/64 from M.A. Jones to C.D. DeLoach regarding request by Congressman Roman C.
Purinski for information about the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 100 |
Airtel
|
1965 |
|
Scope and Contents
4/6/65 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover concerning information on student march on Washington,
co-sponsored by the HREC
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 101 |
Newspaper clippings
|
|
| Reel 1 | 102 |
Memo
|
1965 |
|
Scope and Contents
10/19/65 from SAC Louisville to Hoover regarding vandalism against the HREC
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 103 |
Letter
|
1965 |
|
Scope and Contents
10/19/65 from Hoover to chief, US Secret Service, regarding the HREC
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 104 |
Memo
|
1967 |
|
Scope and Contents
4/13/67 from SAC Louisville to Hoover regarding vote by the Tennessee House of Representatives
to start a second legislative investigation of the HREC
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 105 |
Copy of Tennessee House Joint Resolution No. 14
|
|
|
Scope and Contents
authorizing a committee to investigate the activites of the HREC of Knoxville County
and its affiliated organizations
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 106 |
Memo
|
1967 |
|
Scope and Contents
6/9/67 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding the HREC
|
|||
| Reel 1 |
Section 8: 1/1968-8/1972.
|
||
| Reel 1 | 107 |
Miscellaneous letters to the bureau requesting information about the HFS and the HREC
|
1968-1972 |
| Reel 1 | 108 |
Section 9: 11/1940-6/1967.
|
|
| Reel 1 |
Newspaper clippings, arranged chronologically
|
1940-1967 | |
| Reel 1 | 109 |
Section 10: 1/20/1958.
|
|
| Reel 1 | 110 |
Memo
|
1958 |
|
Scope and Contents
1/20/1958 from SAC Knoxville to director regarding attempt to blow up the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 |
Section 11: 3/1959-9/1963.
|
||
| Reel 1 | 111 |
Teletype
|
1959 |
|
Scope and Contents
3/16/59 from SAC Memphis to Hoover regarding bomb threat received at the HFS
|
|||
| Reel 1 | 112 |
Airtel
|
1963 |
|
Scope and Contents
9/6/63 from SAC Knoxville to Hoover regarding bomb threat received at the HREC
|
|||